Severe Weather

Conway residents fight after Hurricane Irene

After their homes were destroyed by floodwaters triggered by Hurricane Irene more than a year ago, some residents in Conway have yet to see federal disaster money.

Residents in the Transvale Acres neighborhood lost everything when the Saco River flooded during Irene.

A borrowed trailer has become a home for Richard Carruthers.

"Overall, it's not a good situation," Carruthers said.

The trailer sits in Carruthers' driveway of a house that was nearly destroyed after Irene unleashed flooding. Twenty-two people were rescued, and no lives were lost.

"I had 78 percent damage," Carruthers said.

Carruthers joined almost a dozen of his neighbors at a meeting at the Conway Fire Department. All of them lost their homes.

The town has a plan to buy their homes, tear them down and create green space. Twenty-five percent of the money would come from the state, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency is supposed to provide the rest of the funds.

But red tape and other major disasters -- like Hurricane Sandy -- have delayed the money.

"We are at the point now where we believe we will get our obligations from FEMA, then it goes to the governor and council, and then we can start writing checks," Conway Fire Chief Stephen Solomon said. "We would like to get this wrapped up and move on and buy something else."

But Carruthers doesn't want to sell. He would prefer to make repairs so he can move back into his home, but there are layers of federal rules with which he must comply.

There is nothing Carruthers can do until the money comes through.

"There are other people in worse situations than I am in," Carruthers said. "I am coping."

The town hopes to receive the FEMA money by June.

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